Part 16 (2/2)

Taking a deep breath, she nodded. She was going to get to the bottom of these murders come h.e.l.l or high water, no matter how s.e.xy her number one suspect was.

The cold air had a sharp bite and fat flakes of snow still floated from the sky as Meredythe followed her host down a path he must have shoveled earlier.

”I have to feed Hammer first,” he explained as he opened the door to a large shed that had kennel runs extending from the other three sides.

Cold hands fisted in her coat pockets, she followed him in. ”Hammer? The wolf-dog Frank Messner had at Columbia University?”

”The same one.” Bleddyn dumped some dry dog food into a bowl then mixed a can of wet with it. The low growl that was emanating from a dark corner erupted into a full-fledged snarl when he opened the door to the kennel run. He set the bowl on the floor and set a fresh bowl of water next to it. The snarling and growling didn't stop until they left the shed.

Once he'd latched the door, Bleddyn sighed. His chin fell down against his chest. Meredythe's hand on him arm brought his attention back to her. The sorrow and regret on his face startled her.

”Dr. Glyndwr... Bleddyn?”

He patted her hand. ”Don't mind me. I'm just not used to defeat. I've had Hammer for a bit now and haven't made any progress with him. He still snarls whenever I get close. If I could get my hands on the b.a.s.t.a.r.ds who did this to him... ” With a quick smile he tucked her hand under his arm. ”But you're not here to hear me complain about my failures. The wolves are this way, probably in the cave I built.”

She grabbed his arm with her other hand when her foot slipped as they struggled through knee- to thigh-deep snow. ”You built a cave?”

He stopped until she caught her balance, then led her forward. ”Chicken wire, plaster of Paris, some cement and a little gray paint. It doesn't look half bad now that the trees I planted around it have grown.”

Stopping in front of a gate, he removed the glove from his hand and dug the key for the lock out of his pocket. A quick flick of his wrist had the lock and chain off. Swinging the gate open, he glanced her way, a mischievous smile on his lips. ”Want to come in?”

Eagerness mixed with fear. She looked around cautiously. ”Are you sure it's safe?”

Again he trained those misty gray eyes on her. ”You'll always be safe with me, Meredythe. I give you my word.”

That icy s.h.i.+ver sauntered up her back again. But just how good is your word? ”Maybe just inside the gate.”

His grin was contagious, and she answered him with one of her own as he led her inside the enclosure and fastened the gate firmly behind them. She halted after three steps. His chuckle wafted back over his shoulder as he headed for a locked shed. ”They aren't here yet, and I could use some help.”

After a quick look around, she forged through the knee-high snow after him. If his wolves did appear suddenly, there was no way she could run fast enough to get away, but she might be able to get inside that shed. ”Why do you need my help?”

”I can't carry six dishes of food at one time.”

”Oh. What are you feeding them?”

He started dumping food into the six dishes sitting on a shelf. ”Dog chow.”

She blinked. ”I thought wolves ate meat.”

”They do,” he answered as he handed her two dishes of food. Then he placed another one in the crook of her arm. ”Can you manage three of them?” After her nod, he continued, ”But a couple times a week, I give them commercial dog food. They seem to enjoy the change.”

He gathered up the other three dishes and led her out of the shed and across an open area toward a pine tree. ”The snow's not as deep here,” he said by way of explanation.

After setting his dishes down, he took two from Meredythe. ”Just set that one down at your feet and back up a little.” Then he pursed his lips and whistled. A couple of yelps emerged from some nearby pine trees. Then four wolves exploded from the undergrowth and headed straight for them.

Stumbling back, Meredythe lost her balance and landed on her b.u.t.t. Before she could struggle back to her feet, a mouth full of teeth appeared before her eyes. She snapped her eyes closed and raised her hands to ward off the attacking wolf.

She swallowed a scream. Oh my G.o.d, I'm going to die.

A sloppy tongue swiped across her face. She opened one eye slowly, then the other. A gray wolf sat before her, staring intently. Chuckling, Bleddyn stepped into her field of vision and squatted next to the wolf. ”This is Spring. She's the friendliest one.”

”This is friendly? What's she like unfriendly?” The wolf's tongue lolled out. Meredythe shuddered at the sight of sharp teeth at eye level. Tugging her eyes away from the wolf, she concentrated on Bleddyn.

He extended his hand. She grabbed it and he pulled her to her feet. When she saw the five wolves that sat behind him, she stepped closer to his side.

Bleddyn smiled to himself and slipped his arm around her. Her eyes locked on the wolves and she snuggled closer.

”As I said, you've already met Spring. The three sitting together are, from right to left, Storm, Snow and Honey. The mostly white female off to their left is Breeze and the large male is One-Eye. Breeze and One-Eye are the parents of the other four. Last winter I had two wolves here. Come spring, my population had tripled.”

Meredythe frowned mentally as the wolves scattered to their dishes and began to eat hungrily. No black wolves. She eyed the pups warily. ”You mean they aren't even full-grown yet? They look awful big to me.”

He chuckled and planted a quick kiss on her nose. ”They're eight months old. I think you'll be more comfortable outside the gate. I want to examine them and make sure they 're all healthy, then I'll be out.”

”They won't chase me?” she asked dubiously.

His grin was not comforting. ”Not if you don't want to play.”

She blanched. ”Play! With them?”

Another kiss on her nose and a quick squeeze from the arm around her waist. ”Go on. I'll be out in about fifteen minutes.”

Meredythe backed away slowly. Bleddyn sat down in the snow. The wolves ignored her and, except for the one-eyed male who remained aloof, gathered around him.

Once she was outside the gate, Meredythe began to breathe again. Her host remained seated, the wolves milling about him, sometimes eating, sometimes staring at him, sometimes licking his face or rubbing their bodies against his. Meredythe leaned against the fence and stared. She had never seen anything like it in her life.

Eventually Bleddyn rose and walked over to the largest male. He stared at him for a few minutes then gathered up the now-empty dishes. Stacking them together, he headed for the gate, the four younger wolves jumping around him.

He waved them away. ”Go play somewhere else.”

Tongues lolling out in what could only be wolf laughter, the four of them sprang away and began chasing each other around. They disappeared into the undergrowth. Their mother rose, and after a quick swipe of her tongue on the large male's muzzle, she followed her rambunctious children. The male rose and followed them.

Meredythe continued to stare at the spot where they'd disappeared until Bleddyn joined her outside the enclosure. After securely locking the gate, he asked, ”What do you think of them?”

”I-I've never seen anything like it. They're so beautiful. Aren't you afraid of them? What if one of them bit you?”

He grinned a wolfish grin. ”I'd bite back.”

Nonplussed, Meredythe simply stared. He leaned over and kissed her nose again. ”I have to go check the fence, and that will take most of the day. Why don't you go on back inside? I'm sure you have work to do. There's a computer in my bedroom if you want to use it. I refilled the generator, so you don't have to worry about the power going off.”

He was already walking away.

”Bleddyn?”

He turned. ”Yes?”

She shoved her hands deep into the pockets of the parka she was wearing and swallowed. ”Why-why do you keep kissing my nose?”

<script>